Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 577 - 575: Spring Banquet (Part 2)

A group of people walked for a while and arrived at the main hall. Before they entered, they first heard the delicate laughter of women.

Since Mrs. Lu had calculated the timing of their departure, several guests were already present in the main hall.

As Lin Wanwan and her companions had just taken off their shoes and entered the room, a young, dignified, and elegant woman who was the center of attention looked over at them and warmly said, "Sister Lu, you’ve arrived."

Mrs. Lu brought the other women forward to pay their respects: "This is the Princess of Xiangcheng. You must all greet her properly and don’t forget your manners."

"Yes." The girls replied in unison.

The other girls from the Xiao Deyan family naturally knew the Princess of Xiangcheng, so this remark from Mrs. Lu was mainly directed at Lin Wanwan.

Since they were meeting a princess, the women naturally performed the most solemn bow. After the ritual, Mrs. Lu exchanged a few pleasantries with the Princess of Xiangcheng, who then turned the conversation towards Lin Wanwan: "Are you the Wanwan from the Hou Tao Lin family, who was taught by a sage since childhood and also studied medicine under Old Master Sun, and was bestowed the title of Village Lady of Le’an by your father?"

Lin Wanwan, upon being addressed, responded with neither humility nor arrogance: "Replying to the princess, that is indeed me."

The Princess of Xiangcheng quickly sized up Lin Wanwan and glanced at the maid by her side, who immediately handed over a tray containing a necklace.

"I’ve heard that you saved my nephew’s life. This golden jade necklace was a gift from my father during my marriage. Today, I’ll give it to you. Your neck seems bare, and it could use this."

A gift from the princess, naturally, could only be received with gratitude and a smile.

"Thank you, Princess." Lin Wanwan took the necklace and, with the help of the princess’s maid, wore it.

The necklace featured a gold collar with pendants made of pearls and jade, and in the center, a ruby glittered prominently. Such a necklace from the Imperial Palace was clearly of immeasurable value.

However, Lin Wanwan, who loved wealth, did not feel particularly delighted upon receiving it, feeling as though the gift was burning in her hands.

The Princess of Xiangcheng, despite being only in her late teens, was a few years younger than Lin Wanwan. Yet, her demeanor was that of an elder, creating the illusion that she was older.

Due to previous modifications from the Space-Time Gate’s evolution, Lin Wanwan, though already in her twenties, appeared youthful, even more so than the Princess of Xiangcheng.

"Someone raised in the mountains, living on dew and vegetarian food indeed retains purity. I’m delighted to see such a radiant girl as you," the Princess of Xiangcheng praised with a smile.

Living on dew and vegetarian food? I apologize, but no, I am not a vegetarian. Devouring seafood and meat is one of my aspirations. Now that I can enjoy seafood freely, I feel my life is quite fulfilled.

Lin Wanwan doesn’t like tea brewing and finds dew too unsanitary.

Water that has been disinfected and filtered multiple times is far superior to dew! It’s baffling why noble scions in the Great Tang are so obsessed with brewing tea with dew water in their tea culture.

Indeed, showing off knows no boundaries of era or age.

Since receiving the necklace bestowed by the Princess of Xiangcheng, Lin Wanwan became the center of attention in the venue. Everyone was pondering over what exactly had occurred.

How did this obscure Village Lady of Le’an gain such favor from the Princess of Xiangcheng that she received a royal necklace? Could it merely be due to saving Xiao Chong’s life?

No, that can’t be right. If the life-saving debt was truly valued, there would’ve been immediate action after the lifesaving event itself.

So, it must not be solely because of the life-saving debt.

Subsequently, the ladies gathered in groups, engaging in their own conversations.

After complimenting Lin Wanwan a few times, the Princess of Xiangcheng then let her go and began conversing with Mrs. Lu and the others.

Mrs. Lu, continuously chatting with the Princess of Xiangcheng, appeared quite tense.

A woman from the prestigious Lu family of Fanyang, from the Xiao Deyan family, showed apprehension when facing the princess, highlighting deeply ingrained social hierarchies.

However, logically, a direct lineage member should inherently feel superior when facing anyone. Why was Mrs. Lu uneasy? Could it be because the Princess of Xiangcheng was too young but too mature in her speech, causing discomfort for Mrs. Lu?

Married to her cousin Xiao Rui before reaching her teen years, the Princess of Xiangcheng’s seniority suddenly elevated, leaving her interacting with individuals more than a decade older, such as mother-in-law figures, which was indeed unsettling.

As the guests gathered, the Princess of Xiangcheng began introducing them. The older ones simply exchanged greetings, whereas the younger ones like Lin Wanwan repeatedly performed formal bows until they were dizzy.

Though they received quite a few meeting gifts, Lin Wanwan still felt at a loss, for she was wealthy enough to rival a nation in the Great Tang. Did she long for such trifling meeting gifts?

Moreover, it seemed as though the Princess of Xiangcheng intentionally introduced Lin Wanwan among so many girls, pulling her along with the wife from the Xiao Deyan family.

In truth, with so many faces and identities, all described in literary detail, Lin Wanwan was overwhelmed by bows alone, let alone remembering so many people!

Only someone with an eidetic memory could manage such a feat, something impossible for Lin Wanwan.

Facing a room full of Xiao clan relatives and in-laws, Lin Wanwan couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated. Watching the Princess of Xiangcheng, surrounded like a star amidst bright companionship, skillfully moving through the scene, she foresaw her own future challenges.

Being a wife in a prominent family is no easy task; every word and action must adhere to etiquette, otherwise, one would be subject to gossip and contempt. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The Princess of Xiangcheng, obviously several years younger, appeared older, likely due to the constant self-discipline, mental and physical over-exertion, right?

With most guests around, introductions nearly settled, everyone followed the Princess of Xiangcheng to the flower hall, which was already filled with various snacks and fruits. Guests naturally grouped according to familiarity and chatted away.

With some time before the main banquet, everyone naturally started socializing first.

This time, without the Princess of Xiangcheng’s attention, no one in the flower hall approached Lin Wanwan for conversation.

As a newcomer to the Beijing social scene, Lin Wanwan, lacking distinguished family ties, elite status, or noteworthy "influence," naturally attracted no attention.

The world of socializing only gathers people of equivalent status; inserting oneself into a class that doesn’t align is self-degrading.

In Mao County, everyone was either from notable families’ branches or new nobles, no one particularly exalted. Lin Wanwan, wealthy enough to rival a nation and holding a title, seemed highly esteemed and sought after.

But in Chang’an City, a place where one could easily encounter two First Rank titled ladies with a single brick, her Secondary Fifth Rank as a Village Lady was insignificant, not to mention her humble origins, which many disregarded.

Fortunately, Lin Wanwan wasn’t bothered by being overlooked, enjoying the quiet.

Just as she was feeling bored, a matron standing beside her suddenly stumbled, leaning towards Lin Wanwan, spilling her glass of rice wine onto Lin Wanwan’s dress, triggering a wave of small exclamations around.

A serving woman promptly and adeptly cleaned up, while another person addressed Lin Wanwan: "Lin Le’an, please follow me to the side room to change clothes."